JAKARTA, March 10 — President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono continues to monitor the latest development in the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines plane with seven Indonesian nationals on board, Indonesia's Antara news agency reported.

“I continue to keep up with the report from the foreign affairs minister on the fate of the seven Indonesian nationals on board the ill-fated Malaysia Airlines plane. Indonesia is ready to cooperate in the search mission,” the President tweeted on his Twitter handle @SBYudhoyono today.

Susilo, on behalf of the Government of Indonesia, expressed deep concern to the families of the victims, hoping that all Asean countries would participate in the search for the missing plane.

Yesterday, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto stated that the Indonesian government was ready to help in the search.

Malaysian authorities have asked for help in the search for flight MH370, which carried 239 people including 12 crew members on board, Djoko noted in a short message text.

“The Malaysian military chief has contacted us asking for help from the Indonesian government through the military chief, the naval chief of staff and the air force chief of staff to assist in the search efforts,” he said.

The Indonesian military (TNI) has warmly responded to the request and will soon send its personnel to help in the search efforts, he said.

The Boeing 777-200 aircraft, which left Kuala Lumpur for Beijing, at 12.41 am, lost contact with Subang Air Traffic Control early Saturday morning. — Bernama